44 Odd Things About Me

I received this from a friend and was assigned the task of telling 44 odd things about myself and then learning 44 odd things about my friends. So, it is your turn to tell me 44 odd things about you. Email me now, please!

44 ODD THINGS ABOUT ME!

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yes
2. Have you ever smoked? No
3. Do you own a gun? No
4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? grape & strawberry
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I dislike them greatly; I would only eat a hotdog if it was burned and it was the LAST thing on earth for me to eat.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Charlie Brown Christmas
8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Wild Strawberry Protein Shake
9 . Can you do push ups? Possibly a few; haven't tried in years
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring, diamond earrings & Rolex watch (all of them from my precious husband)
11. Favorite hobby? Reading, Scuba Diving, Knitting (I just learned this week.)
12. Do you have A.D.D.? No; completely the opposite; probably too focused sometimes
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? Lack of patience; irritableness with others
14. Middle name? Lynn
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment... 1) I need to go on a DIET and start exercising. 2) I wish my right eye was clearer (I just had eye surgery a week ago, and my sight is not as crisp as I would like it to be yet. Still progressing.) 3) I love this movie (watching August Rush).
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? water, tea, Dr Pepper (on occassion)
17. Current worry? My eye sight
18. Current hate right now? my weight
19. Favorite place to be? snuggled in my bed watching a movie with my husband and kids
20. How did you bring in the new year? with friends at Lake Livingston
21. Where would you like to go? Australia; back to Europe
22. Name three people who might complete this: Kathy Stroud, Shelley Hodges, Angie Booth, Jody Daley
23. Do you own slippers? Yes, but I can't find them right now; I really needed them this morning; my feet were freezing!
24. What shirt are you wearing? my pink rubber duckie Nick & Nora PJ's
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, too slick and cold - LOVE 800+ thread count Sateen or Egyptian Cotton sheets
26. Can you whistle? a little; not too well or for a very long time
27. Favorite color? to wear - Black; otherwise - pink
28. Would you be a pirate? No, they are always way too dirty.
29. What songs do you sing in the AM? whatever is on the radio when I wake up or get into the car
30. Favorite girl's Name? Megan, of course
31. Favorite boy's name? Connor, of course
32. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing; I am wearing PJ's
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Watching my mother-in-law as she laughed so hard that she was crying as she listened to Eden tell the story of her trip home from Michigan.
34. What vehicle do you drive? Chevrolet Taho -- LOVE it!
35. Worst injury you've ever had? Torn ligaments in wrist.
36. Do you love where you live? Yes
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? four
38. Who is your loudest friend? probably Sherry MacLean
39. Do you have any pets? Yes; Sophie (1 year old Shit zu) She is PRECIOUS!
40. Does someone have a crush on you? I hope my husband does.
41. Your favorite book(s): Emily Giffin's novels & Sophie Kinsella's novels
42. Do you collect anything? sterling silver charms from places I visit, crosses, Willow Tree Angels
43. Favorite Sports Team? Aggies!
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? I Can Only Imagine by Third Day

Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving was fabulous!  We had a wonderful turkey, new potatoes, sweet-potato casserole,   green bean casserole, rolls, fruit salad, with pumpkin and cherry pie and peppermint cake for dessert.  After lunch, we cleaned off the table and began a great game of Phase 10.  Connor and I did not fair so well at Phase 10, but we had a great time playing anyway.  

Connor is addicted to Phase 10 and wants to play constantly.  He is so cute; he holds his cards all stacked together - not fanned out - yet he seems to know exactly what he holds in his hand and what he needs from the draw pile.  Although he rarely wins a game, he loves it all the same.

We broke from the Phase 10 game and tried to play Catch Phrase for a bit.  We did not play the game as the rules state, but we had a good time guessing the words as the kids and other adults gave out clues.  Connor, Haley, and Megan really got into the game and continued it upstairs in the bedroom after the adults had enough of the game's beeper.   The kids have had so much fun together.

Earlier in the day, they played in the snow, climbed up and down the hill behind the house, and built a little snowman.  At one point, Connor came to the door looking for the girls with a huge snowball in his arms.  The large snowball eventually became the base of the precious little snowman that he built.  He finished off the snowman with two stick arms, some rock eyes, and a red Folgers coffee can for a top hat.  I will post a picture of it once we return home.

It was a terrific Thanksgiving filled with lots of food, family, and fun!

Eye Surgery - Day 6 & 7 and Trip to Taos

My vision is much clearer today.  Although I can't read street signs that are a couple hundred yards away, I can read items just closer.  The surroundings are much crisper and continue to improve every day.  My eyes are not as tired and are feeling more and more refreshed.

We headed to Taos this morning.  Blake, Flip, and Connor played golf at the Taos Country Club, and Megan and I shopped about Taos.  We had a fabulous hamburger at 5 Star Hamburgers and then went shopping.  We picked up a few things at the Taos Walmart, which is always an interesting experience, and then visited a few local stores.  Megan did not enjoy the trip to the Overland Sheep Company too much.  She was a little uncomfortable with the sheep skin and other fur coats and shoes.  We tried on some Uggs, but we did not make any purchases.

The guys wrapped up their golf game and we headed back to Red River.  We had just enough time to rest a few minutes and play a round of Phase 10 before heading to Sun Dance for dinner.  Although the service was quite slow, the food and sopapillas were fabulous, and we had a great time visiting together.

Brad, Amy, and Haley arrived just as we were finishing dinner.  They had a rough trip in from Denver, but things are much better since they arrived.  About 10 minutes into their trip, they blew a tire and damaged the bumper of their car.  Luckily, the gentleman at Discount Tires was able to help them out and get them on their way, a little late, but on their way.

We were all excited to see each other, and Megan, Connor, and Haley began playing immediately.  We visited and settle in at the cabin before Brad and Amy headed back to town to their condo.  Haley stayed here at the Cabin with Megan and Connor, and we kept the dogs - Coco and Boggie - as well.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so we will all be waking early to help Sharolyn set the table and finish the cooking.

Eye Surgery - Day 5

I drove myself to the eye doctor today.  The contacts were really dry this morning, so I have put in lots of Soothe eye drops, but they were still irritating.  I was SOOOOO ready to get them out.  I arrived early and only had to wait a couple of minutes to see Dr. Noz.  She numbed my eyes and then used a metal tool to remove the contacts.  Being a longtime contact wearer, I was a little nervous about the metal tool, but ... I knew that she knew what she was doing.  She did not want to pull the contact on my eye and risk damaging anything, so she slipped he tool under the top of the contact and folded it forward and removed it.  It was not too bad since my eyes were numbed.  I would not have wanted to try it without the numbing meds.  Just seeing the metal tool was enough discomfort.

My vision today is 20/40.  Not the 20/20 that I was hoping for today, but she assured me that it is just around the corner.  "By the end of the week, your vision will be much clearer," she said.  I have to admit that I was disappointed.  Although the clarity and sharpness improved when the contacts were removed, I was expecting more.  The miracle did not happen today, but I am patiently waiting for it.  I am ready to wake up and see clear, crisp images.  I know that that date is not too far off, so I am waiting and praying that the crystal clear image that I saw immediately following surgery last Thursday returns soon.

My cornea is still healing, so the blurriness and lack of clarity and 20/20 vision is because I am still healing.  I am using the steroid drops 4 times each day and taking my vitamin C and B complex religiously, so I know that the day will come.  Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, emails, and phone calls.  I really appreciate all of them more than you know.  Thanks for the continued prayers for healing.

I may be away from an internet connection for a few days, so I probably won't be able to update you until the end of the week, but I will do so when I can.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Eye Surgery - Day 4

My vision is better today.  Still blurry, but much improved.  No discomfort at all today.  I am looking forward to having the contacts removed tomorrow and to hopefully seeing really well.  Megan and I went shopping today, and although I could not see too far away from me, my eyes felt less tired today.  It was a great shopping trip, and I enjoyed getting out for a while.

My appointment is a 9:15 in the morning, so I will email an update afterwards.

Eye Surgery - Day 3

It is day three, and I am doing my best to type this amidst the great blur.  It is strange to type with your eyes closed or almost closed and not be able to review what you have typed on the screen because the blur is quite great today.  My eyes are slightly sensitive, but 100% better than before.  I am still doing the multitude of drops - some every hour, most 4 times a day.  The drops are getting easier and quicker to administer.  I have to wait 5 minutes between each drop (to allow the drop to seep into my eye and not have the follow-up drop flush out the first one), so it is not a fast process.  

I have not been in any pain, so I have never taken the pain meds, and I did sleep better last night.  I woke up a few times and put drops in, but I rested much better than I did the first night.  I am comfortable today, able to hold my eyes open without difficulty, but my vision is really blurry.  I try to focus, but it just tires out my eyes and doesn't help, so I have stopped trying.

The contacts that are protecting the raw surface of my eye as the surface layer of the cornea regenerates, are blurring my vision.  The cornea should be healed on Monday, and then the contacts will be removed by Dr. M.  I can't wait!

Eye Surgery - Day 2

The alarm went off, and I was exhausted.  I had to get up and get myself and the kids ready for school.  Blake had to drop the kids off and then take me to my doctor's appointment.  We got the kids delivered and were off to Blake's office to run a program and then off to my appointment.  My eyes were EXTREMELY sensitive to light, and it was all that I could do to hold them open, even though I was wearing tinted, "very fashionable" goggles, and darkly tinted, "equally as fashionable" sunglasses over the goggles.

We made it to Dr. M's office, and I saw Dr. Nov first.  As soon as she entered the room, I told her how sensitive my eyes were.  She put in some yellow numbing drops, and I was in heaven!  I could hold my eyes open without any effort at all.  I wanted to hug her.  She checked the protective contacts to make sure that they were still in place, and did a quick eye test.  I was reading really well.  She checked a few other things, Dr. M. came in to take a peek, and that was it.  He said that my vision, although quite clear at that moment, would probably get rather blurry this weekend.

Eventually the marvelous numbing drops that Dr. Nov had given me wore off and the light sensitivity returned, so I kept the goggles on and stayed away from the light for the remainder of the day.